Sarah Carabott
Updated - The final journey
Updated - Adds new video
As the colourful fleet of buses makes way for more modern vehicles, Sarah Carabott joins Joseph Valletta, a bus driver for 55 years, on a journey through time.
Known as Ta’ Lazzru, Mr Valletta walks in pitch darkness towards Etienne Garage, Ta’ Bajadira, in Qormi at 4.45 a.m. Smartly dressed and ready for the long day ahead, he pulls open the heavy metal garage door, revealing the snout of one of Malta’s classic buses.
The 1956 Thames was initially built in wood but was restructured in metal some years later. It has been passed on from owner to owner and is now the property of Anthony Falzon from Qormi.
Mr Valletta, 73, hops on the bus and drives uphill through the deserted streets towards Naxxar, overlooking a sleeping Malta. The landscape, dimly lit by the very first streaks of grey sunrise, is dotted with bright orange lights.
The aged but clean bus weaves through narrow streets on its way to Għargħur to pick up the early birds on their way to work. It pulls up under a blue bus stage sign, in the shadow of a new Arriva sign that will guide commuters as from tomorrow.
Mr Valletta lifts up the seating bench adjacent to the dashboard and pulls out two placards bearing the number 5 to slide them in the bus-number frame behind the windscreen.
After informing the bus inspector on duty about his arrival, he gets back behind the wheel just as the soothing velvety colours of sunrise blanket the village. Mr Valletta loves driving.
At 12, he started out as a bus conductor. He got his driving licence at 18 and a special licence that would permit him to drive buses a few months later. Around 42 years ago he drove the bus, known as “Tax-Xejp”. He later got his own bus, which was passed on to one of his sons, and about seven years ago he started driving this same Tax-Xejp bus again.
Passengers on board are welcomed by Mr Valletta’s sweet nature, held to be one of the rarest characteristics on Maltese roads. He thanks every single person who dumps the 47c fare on the man’s small outstretched palm. When he’s lucky, he gets to keep the 3c change from the 50c coin as a tip.
Muttering the words “let’s start” as the church bells chime 5.30 a.m., Mr Valletta starts the engine.
Vegetables hawkers are mounting their stalls. Languid sun rays tickle the passengers awake as some of them start bellowing out the “news of the day”. The topic on today’s agenda is without doubt the mystifying “Arriva buses”.
The passengers get noisier as the day grows older. Small talk suddenly sparks off a loud debate about “l-Unjoni Ewropeja”, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and his colleagues.
When the driver has to deviate from his ordinary route, which is closed for traffic, the passengers eagerly guide him through. Clearly, the driver has no say in this matter. He nods, amused.
“They don’t bother me,” he says, “but when I notice that things are heating up I ask them to calm down as this is not a band club.”
In between the moans and groans of commuters, Mr Valletta gives directions to a lost passenger and gives a free lift to the old lady who needs to catch a bus to Mater Dei Hospital from a bus stop further down the road.
The “żomm waħda Chalie” (hang on Charlie) and the “minuta Pawl!” (just a minute, Paul) are never missing as workers stumble up the steps out of breath and sweaty but relieved they did not miss the first bus of the day. Some annoyed passenger shots: “Ejja ħa mmorru Ġuż!” (Let’s get going, Joe).
As the passengers yawn their way to Valletta, the driver sits up straight, concentrating hard on the road ahead, which is being gradually swallowed up by cars.
After the return journey from Naxxar and his second cup of tea for the day, Mr Valletta sweeps the bus clean of any tickets thrown on the floor by careless passengers.
Under the present system, drivers usually get to drive the same route for the day but are assigned different daily routes. Although a bus driver’s day could last from 5 a.m. until 10 p.m., they work on alternate days.
Nonetheless, sometimes Mr Valletta has had to skip his days off, especially over the past weeks when the number of bus drivers thinned out as some joined Arriva.
“But I’m happy I could make the most out of the last few days. It had never dawned on me that the Maltese bus service would come to an end,” he adds, his gaze drifting over the red flag imprinted with a white Maltese cross flying proudly at the tip of the bus’ snout.
When the driver’s corner was once enclosed like a cabin, it had its own little shrine. Now, only a couple of holy pictures, accompanied by a Make Christ The Centre Of Your Life slogan are displayed on top of the windscreen.
Smiling, Mr Valletta says the bus is sometimes hired to escort people during weddings and he has no intention of retiring yet.
The day’s trip might be the last one the bus will make as a public transport vehicle but, starting soon, it will be taking groups of tourists around the bumpy Maltese roads.
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Mark Schembri
Jul 3rd 2011, 15:46
As a bus enthusiast in Sydney, I will always remember with fond memories the Fords, Bedfords, AECs, Leylands that served Malta & Gozo so well for well over fifty years. I have been fortunate enough to visit my parent's homeland of Malta twice in the past five years and thoroughly enjoyed photographing these unique vehicles. But time brings change, and today will see the start of a new chapter in the proud history of Maltese Buses.
Josette Piscopo
Jul 3rd 2011, 08:30
I remember Mr Valletta when I was a little girl and it was lovely reading about him and realising that he is still driving buses. My uncles both drove buses when I was little they have passed away a long time ago but I remember them and the buses fondly. Pawlu Camilleri Firefly who is related to Bajadera and Geraldu Galea always smoking his pipe.
Mr Peter Korsten
Jul 3rd 2011, 00:04
I love that bus, which I saw (from the comforts of my air-conditioned car) driving down Valley Road on Friday. Maybe, one day, I'll pretend to be a tourist and take a trip down memory lane.
And also a pleasure to see the gentlemen who drove it. Both are from a different era.
John Lidstone
Jul 2nd 2011, 23:21
A very poignant, wholly appropriate and charming tribute to the passing of Malta's old buses and systems, and how fitting to do so by showing the last active 'bonnetted' bus, 537, starting its last day.
Sarah, I congratulate you on a lovely piece which I thoroughly enjoyed reading; you have nicely caught some of the best remembered aspects of what is about to pass into history.
As a visitor (and journalist) I first came to Malta in 1997, because of the old buses. I expected a week would be more than enough to see and sample; suffice is to say I came back for two weeks later in the same year, and many years since, and have taken 15 holidays in Malta between then and now and have come to a great affection for Malta and the Maltese people over that time.
The old buses have been central to every visit - I've never hired a car and have had many happy journeys.
It is time for change and improvement, but, note that Melbourne has kept some of its iconic trams, just as London has a few of its iconic red 'Routemaster' buses for tourists to enjoy.
In just the same way, it would be good for Malta if those owners who will try and keep the smarter buses (like 537) would be helped by being allowed to drive them on a limited basis, and at lower rates of duty than 'route buses' as 'private' vehicles, to enable them to be kept alive rather than being shut away in garages.
By fostering the retention of some of the best of Malta's buses, you will be keeping alive something which thousands of tourists (not just bus fans) love to see, and which I suspect you good people of Malta will like to see, just here and there, as the months pass by.
Thanks Malta for your old buses - and so many memories. Gone you may now be, but we'll never forget you.
Thanks Sarah for a lovely tribute: it does you, the buses and drivers, great credit. Well done.
Christian Sciberras
Jul 2nd 2011, 22:59
Been making use of these buses in Gozo for over 6 years.
I WON'T miss the frustration, lack of service and amateurism the drivers and their buses displayed.
Sure the occasional tourist may contradict me, as well as people with a similar experience, but I think the amount of time I've made use of these buses justifies and verifies my complaints.
Some may say "better than walking the road, like back in {insert 3rd world country here}", I'd say better to drink from a bottle of water than a rain puddle.
Ms F Goodwin
Jul 2nd 2011, 18:06
Let's get this guy working for Arriva, lol. He seems very respectable.
This is a very nice article. We all know this isn't necessarily a typical bus driver, but it's good to remember that they weren't all bad, and there are certain aspects of the old system we'll miss (even though the bad outweighed the good and we definitely need to move forward).
Well done to the reporter who wrote this - apart from the higher standard of writing, I also admire you for getting up so early!
Ms Francesca Abela
Jul 2nd 2011, 16:41
Should a 73 year old still be driving a Bus with the lives of commuters in his hands?? I think not! Are drivers over a certain age subjected to a new driving test to test their ability to drive whatever vehicle they are supposed to be driving? Where the Driving tests of 50 years ago the same level that they are now??
Mr James Galea
Jul 2nd 2011, 17:32
how very observant ot you. you should be in parlament asking such questions wow
Tonio Bone
Jul 2nd 2011, 17:47
Francesca, should 18 year olds be allowed to drive 250bhp plus cars? It is highly probably that this 73 year never even had an accident in his driving life. You can't really draw a line, now everyone is the same. On the roads you see persons cover all age groups that really should not be allowed to drive!
Mr G Mangion
Jul 2nd 2011, 18:08
Ms Francesca Abela
Agree 100%
Mrs Krystle Micallef
Jul 2nd 2011, 18:13
taf li l-arriva batet ghal dawn in-nies ukoll? basta andu l-ispecial?? jew ma jimpurtax issa?
C Seychell
Jul 2nd 2011, 18:40
I am sure he is a much better driver than most 18 year olds on the road!!
Mark Jones
Jul 2nd 2011, 20:15
Why should the guy not be driving a bus if he is fit and competent?
He probably drives far more responsibly than many of the aggressive lunatics on our roads.
Your coments are disgraceful, Ms Abela.
Michael Lloyd
Jul 2nd 2011, 22:18
As a mere foreign tourist, I have travelled with Mr Valletta several times in his beautifully-maintained bus 537. He is a very safe, competent professional driver, allowing himself the time to complete manoeuvres properly and handling the bus as if it were an extension of himself. Malta's bus drivers vary enormously and some rides are fast, some slow, some exciting, some a bit worrying, but Mr Valletta has never given me anything other than the best ride. To suggest that he is too old to do his job is insulting. He is an excellent driver and never gets flustered or annoyed with anyone, an example to some others.
He is not the only one, of course. Many complaints aimed at the drivers really and truly refer only to a small number. I have always enjoyed riding the old buses and Malta will not be the same without them.
Christian Sciberras
Jul 2nd 2011, 22:55
@all - So we should allow old people to drive huge carriages because 18 year olds should(n't?) drive "250bhp plua cars"?
Where's the reasoning in that? I don't even see any kind of comparison there.
Liam Kelly
Jul 2nd 2011, 23:58
Rather silly comment Ms Abela.
William Attard McCarthy
Jul 2nd 2011, 16:17
Whilst I am in favour of a modern network and system, I do humbly bow my head and fare my last Goodbye to the Malta Bus. It is indeed a sad page in Malta's history books. As a fellow reader, Mr. Cocker, said below... the old buses evoke so many memories of my childhood; when I was a child my father used to work in Libya and since my late mother did not drive, a daily bus trip to Valletta was the norm.
I so vividly remember my late mother lifting me up to be able to pull on that bell string!
Yes, it is time for change, this I must admit. But at the same time, nothing can ever replace the "Malteseness" that came with the old buses... the colours, the characteristics, the details. Those will be a thing of the past...
I too, as a photographer, spent most of last week at the Valletta terminus snapping away at The Malta Buses for the last time.
Goodbye!
Martin Busuttil
Jul 2nd 2011, 16:10
Just last wednesday I was talking to an english couple that have been coming to Malta for the past 10 years or so.
Do you know what them come to our island the first time - A PHOTO OF OUR BELOVED BUSES.
Ok, they admitted that the old buses 'smoke' a lot, but said that they are reliable and take all over the island.
Finally they said - NOW YOU'LL HAVE TO TAKE THE LONG WAY TO GO ANY WHERE, LIKE US IN ENGLAND (THEY TOO GOT ARRIVA THERE), AND REST ASSURED THAT MANY WILL CRYING FOR THE OLD BUSES.
When I mentioned the rough drivers, their answer was - ALL THAT THEY NEEDED WAS SOME TRAINING, AND LEARN HOW TO SPEAK ENGLISH. LIKE THAT THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN OK. BUT IT'S BETTER TO HAVE A ROUGH DRIVER THEN HAVING TO SPEND TWICE THE TIME FOR THE USUAL TRIP TO WORK OR TO GO SHOPPING.
Well we'll have to wait and see. I for sure am not going to use the buses to go to work, because instead of catching the 6.30am bus as normal, from Paola to Valletta and then another bus to Naxxar, now I'd have to catch a 6.00am bus that would take me all around half of Malta and arrive at Naxxar about 90 minutes later, give and take about 30 minutes more.
No I'll stick to my car.
M. Bezzina
Jul 2nd 2011, 14:34
@Kevin Camilleri
In fact yesterday met with a Maltese/American guy which told me that now a days|(given the phasing out of these buses) there is only few things that make us different from Europe, us maltese....
Although these buses were old and smokey the authority(MT) must consider not to phase them out completely but at least they can give tours to tourists on Weekends/Public holidays its a pity to see them going
Mr Peter Korsten
Jul 3rd 2011, 11:18
Well, you cannot blame the Maltese for being European, but rest assured that there are quite a few things setting them apart from particularly northern Europe. Visit http://www.onlyinmalta.com/ for proof of that.
Tonio Bone
Jul 2nd 2011, 14:25
My point when I wrote previously was to try to preserve the charm and heritage of the old bus which was carried such a traditional value. I was not referring to the use of kerosene with diesel, the lack of air-conditioning, proper seating, swearing drivers and badly maintained trucks!!!
Mr J. Bonnici
Jul 2nd 2011, 14:22
That's what I would call good prose. It's not normal for readers to comment about form rather than content. Good prose is not only what you write about but how you juggle those delicate words before inserting them in the right place.
This early morning trip seems to have fuelled Sarah Carabott's inspiration.
Now it's time for me to read it again, slower this time and then to save the page.
Mr Jimmie Rowe
Jul 2nd 2011, 14:16
In my opinion as an English man and a regular visiter to Malta who used these old buses for many moons, i find that retiring these lovely old buses is definitly a big minus point for Maltese history. rather disappointed and definitly not amused.
Kevin Camilleri
Jul 2nd 2011, 13:24
We grumbled about them, but now we are already missing them. That's because we are all Maltese, and these were part of the Maltese culture and our way of doing things.
Although I think the new service will be much better than the old one, it is a pitty that the arriva buses do not resemble the old ones, not even their own colour. In London, they have changed their buses, but they still have double deckers which look like the old ones, why couldn't we do the same thing.
Thank you for the service, when we used to love the bumpy rides when going to school and that 80's music echoing in the bus. Those will surely be missed. And who has never seen this video?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtofoNsr8_0&feature=related
They will be missed.
Andrea Portelli
Jul 2nd 2011, 13:45
I certainly wont miss them. About time this antiquated state got a bit of a facelift
Mr charles vella
Jul 2nd 2011, 14:10
Such busses couldn't be kept mate... They are not up to standard and unsafe for the roads... We're in the EU now! No longer a 3rd world country! They are History now... which will be forever cherished. It's simply a time to move on. We are living in a changing world, and i'm happy to be Maltese, as we are no longer the isolated island we once where. We are living in a beautiful country, most roads are being up to standard now adays, except for some odd ones, beautiful round abouts, perfect road signs, and up-to-date infrustructure... We must open our eyes and realize that our country is changing everyday into better.
Mark Anthony Magro
Jul 2nd 2011, 13:13
I think they should do an old bus memorial!!!!
Maltese Bus we will miss your charm and joyfulness....
Truly the end of an Era!!!
Steve Zammit
Jul 2nd 2011, 13:11
This is a well written article
Farewell to Malta's buses
I was one of those that this morning went to Valletta to photograph them. I was impressed by the number of people that were present all taking photos. Malta's yellow buses are beautiful especially the old ones, and yes I am going to miss them
What I shall not miss is the poor service, but yes I shall miss the yellow buses
Bus no. 537 is a real gem. Prosit Mr.Valletta
G Debono
Jul 2nd 2011, 12:58
"..............The day’s trip might be the last one the bus will make as a public transport vehicle but, starting soon, it will be taking groups of tourists around the bumpy Maltese roads..."
EH? so the pollution from these buses is set to continue ?
Noeleen Grima
Jul 2nd 2011, 14:15
very few off them, will continue to operate. soo the pollution will decrease. I hope
Alan Edwards
Jul 2nd 2011, 12:42
As one of the many tourists and transport enthusiasts who have had some wonderful memories of the traditional Malta and Gozo route buses. I have made a small tribute to commemorate their demise on Saturday 2nd July 2011. The small sketches of the buses in the old route colours were drawn using Microsoft Paint, the photo of myself was taken by my lovely Wife Wendy who has put up with my love of the old buses over the years. I thank her for her patience while she sat around the Triton Fountain while I was wandering amongst the buses adding more photos to my collection.
My tribute can be seen at this URL address
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2038268129272&set=a.1035786867867.7021.1621323160&type=1&theater
Mr Michael Adamek
Jul 2nd 2011, 12:38
As an Australian who frequently visits Malta (my wife is Maltese) I must admit I will miss the old buses. The drivers were real charactors, always friendly and helpful if spoken to politely and should have been given awards for engineering skill in keeping some of those old buses in such good working order.
The end of an era I suppose!
Martin Zammit
Jul 2nd 2011, 12:34
That was so refreshing this morning. Prosit Sarah Carabott for your interesting article. Wish we could read more interesting articles like this.
Paul Kew
Jul 2nd 2011, 12:18
What a wonderful and well written article. It was a pleasure to read. As a regular visitor to Malta for 30 years I will miss the old "bangers" and their individual characteristics. I do hope that some are preserved. Sunday will be a sad day.
James Camilleri
Jul 2nd 2011, 13:45
U ejja come on Mr Catania. Do not tell me that you are a regular commuter cause I will not believe you. Most of the drivers were not at all as they have been described. I was treated once with such hamallagni by ... wait not a driver but a doctor at the hospital!!! Shall we do away with Maltese doctors then.
James Catania
Jul 2nd 2011, 12:18
Oh come on, what with all the Nostalgia all of a sudden, Nazzjon Ipokrita, Am I the only one glad to see these pieces of crap go ?... How many years, have we complained and bickered about the Hamallagni, the pollution, the daghagh fahxi, the breakdowns, the tardiness, the absolute core innate rudeness of the drivers.
OH COME ON GIVE ME A BREAK !!!!
Mrs Pauline Abela
Jul 2nd 2011, 13:01
Well James, that's why 'il-baqra tinbieh kollha!'. I understand the view of people wanting to go to work in comfort but there is also another side - those who come to Malta for holidays and love being on the old buses. I fall in that category and have never driven in Malta. On the other hand my husband doesn't share my enthusiasm and we occasionally agree to meet at our destination using alternative means. He in the car and me on the bus! Buses never worried me when I lived in Malta either. Believe it or not nor did the old Maltese 'deserta' chocolate bars which people often complained about. Everyone's different. What concerns me about these buses is the fact that they're air-conditioned. It might sound like a good idea at first but by 5pm in Summer, I would much rather be tossed about like a pea in a pan than have to contend with the collective whiff of humanity.
Franco Farrugia
Jul 2nd 2011, 14:35
F'dal-pajjiz, jekk taghmel xi haga, jikkritikawk ghax ghamiltha; jekk ma taghmel xejn, jikkritikawk ghax rieqed.
Ivan Cocker
Jul 2nd 2011, 12:10
Sahha Malta Bus!
Though we grumble about attitudes, bad manners and smoke in the street, BUT let's put these neglects aside and admire what to me made a Malta Bus ... I personally shall miss those colourful buses especially the vintage locally converted from military vehicles and trucks, the Dodge and the Bedfords with all that nickel, I shall miss that interesting locally developed floral desigs and lines [tberfil] and typography inherited from their previous transport il-Karettun, I shall also miss that small nicca behind the driver and the string for the bell, as a small kid I used to get a joy of a lifetime pulling it with the help of my father holding me up, something I managed to send back with my sons but now it's gone ... hope some will remain roaming around with all these small details that made them the Malta Bus ... maybe for tourism and revoke back the colourful mix of colour coding ... it is something made in Malta that we should not let it go completely but pass it on to the next generations at least as a vintage ... a nostalgia of an era that fades away tomorrow ...
Goodbye ...
Adrian Pavia
Jul 2nd 2011, 12:04
FINALLLLLYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY :D:D
Mr A Spiteri
Jul 2nd 2011, 12:01
the old buses owners should organise a last tour around malta tomorrow afternoon!
i guess it's a pretty good idea!
Alexander Ellul
Jul 2nd 2011, 11:53
Very well written article. Prosit Sarah!!!
Lino Sant
Jul 2nd 2011, 11:30
Thank you for those educated drivers.
Mr John Bonnici
Jul 2nd 2011, 11:58
Well said !!!
M Borg
Jul 2nd 2011, 11:16
We grumbled against the yellow bus for being so uncomfortable and for being always late. But, just remember all those weird, crazy, funny, strange, boring, sad and passionate moments that you shared on the bouncy bus. The experiences are endless.
Now, that the good old bus will no longer be with us, we will certainly miss this cultural symbol which has shaped our memories as locals and tourists. This is an appreciation page towards the Traditional Malta Bus.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Traditional-Malta-Bus/110388445652491 (malta bus fanpage)
Jeremy Lanfranco
Jul 2nd 2011, 11:09
Prosit Sarah, What a well written nostalgic report!
Just had to love it!
Mr Richard-Nazzreno Farrugia
Jul 2nd 2011, 10:59
nice article and nice video...well done indeed!
Judith Schembri
Jul 2nd 2011, 10:58
Prosit!!
Brought tears to my eyes - with all their wrongs, I guess we'll miss them!
Derek Webb
Jul 2nd 2011, 10:46
A beautifully written article which painted a picture I could see with my eye closed. Ever thought about a career in writing!!!!
Charles Micallef
Jul 2nd 2011, 10:33
A sad day for public transport in Malta, especially when some of us knew nothing different all our lives, but we are glad that the new dawn of public transport has arrived.
...............................extremely well written article, prosit Sarah Carabott..
Juergen Herdin
Jul 2nd 2011, 10:30
A beautiful and impressing coverage, grazzi hafna Sarah!
Mr Paul Caruana
Jul 2nd 2011, 09:44
Today is indeed the end of an era, and however much maligned (and deservedly so) the old system was, one cannot help but feel a tinge of sadness in its passing - after all, we all grew up using it!
Tomorrow is the start of a new (hopefully better) one in Maltese public transportation.
adrian attard
Jul 2nd 2011, 09:37
Deo gratias
Joe Fenech
Jul 2nd 2011, 09:28
Good riddance to old crap !
Mr Joe Gatt
Jul 2nd 2011, 10:17
Joe Fenech
But a Big `THANK YOU` to Mr Valletta, at least, for his long years of faithful `Service`
Do you not realize that some deserve RECOGNITION for their sence of Duty at least.
How about the proverbial `Golden Watch` as a sign of ` RESPECT` at least.
Regretfully so much lacking in todays, mostly, if not purely commercial age.
Joe Fenech
Jul 2nd 2011, 10:55
Wasn't referring to Mr Valletta but to the service in general.
Mrs Krystle Micallef
Jul 2nd 2011, 18:14
xorta m'ghandux jintqal dan il-kliem jekk ahna poplu edukat
Lela Balzan
Jul 2nd 2011, 08:52
Prosit Sarah Carabott,very well written.
Tonio Bone
Jul 2nd 2011, 08:25
I remain of the opinion, expressed in a letter to the Sunday Times before the tender was awarded, that the buses should have coach-built along the design of the old buses. We could have had a modern and technologically advanced bus with a retro look that would have preserved the flavour and a twist of heritage from the old buses which were a characteristic of these islands.
With knowledge gained over the years in the field of transportation and equipment, I am happy to see the old equipment go and the more enviromentally and customer friendly equipment come in, and am hoping that the service will prove to be more efficient, effective and professional. I still have some question marks of the 'bendy buses' which seem to be 'large' for maltese roads and which were effectively 'banned' from the streets of London because they are deemed dangerous to pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.
On a final note I do hope that some of the really old 'long nose' buses are preserved and used for cultural events and special tourist occasions. There is a finely restored and preserved Malta bus doing runs in London, so I see no reason why we should not have some of them still plying the maltese roads to preserve some form of heritage.
Mr R.E. Saliba
Jul 2nd 2011, 09:03
Fully agree with your comment about having the new buses coach-built along the design of the old buses. For starters the old 'long nose' buses were more aerodynamic. Secondly we are somehow forgetting how much of a tourist attraction these buses were.
I have written such words previously and banshees immediately commented back with such gems as 'away with the boneshakers' and 'on with progress'. Sadly blinkered and reminiscent of just eating fast-food because one's hungry without keeping an eye on the waistline. Such things should be thought of properly.
But I'm afraid all these words are useless Tonio because... let's face it.... Arriva would have spent too much to build custom buses for Malta. As a business, at the end of the day they don't really about Malta but about how deeply they can line their pockets.
Should the MTA have interevened? Of course! But we're too busy dressing up peeing statues and sponsoring soccer teams, enticing tourists to visit a Malta that is slowly loosing originality. Go figure.
Alistair Busuttil
Jul 2nd 2011, 09:26
they would have been just a replica not original
Joe Fenech
Jul 2nd 2011, 09:30
"We could have had a modern and technologically advanced bus with a retro look that would have preserved the flavour and a twist of heritage from the old buses which were a characteristic of these islands."
Yes, a London balck-cab approach could have been adopted. What is worrying is that ARRIVA has brought over COACHES not buses and that's not going to help. A bus has a front door to alight and middle door to exit.
Mr steve Micalled
Jul 2nd 2011, 09:54
love the idea retro buses would have been fantastic!! hope someone will at least try this!
Mr Joe Gatt
Jul 2nd 2011, 10:05
`There is a finely restored and preserved Malta bus doing runs in London, so I see no reason why we should not have some of them still plying the maltese roads to preserve some form of heritage.`
There you have it, rest sured, this bus in London must conform to the latest Euopean regulations, re emmisions, ect.
Let us not discard all that traditional, would one knock our Fortifications, just because they are old?
We could do the same here with some of these Busse and preserve part of our Heritage.
And be PROUD OF IT.
`
Mr Joe Gatt
Jul 2nd 2011, 10:21
Alistair Busuttil
Nothing wrong with that, is there?
The rebuilt German Cities, and many other examples to begin with.
K Perry
Jul 2nd 2011, 12:37
Fully agree with your comments too . part of the 'Malta Experience' was always a bus ride to somewhere on the island. Bendy busses!!! who allowed them to be foisted onto Malta? deemed as dangerous on Londons roads I wonder how they will fare in the Narrow congestion of Malta?
Please keep some of the old buses for those not in such a hurry to go to work but are visiting tourists.. perhaps with a set price for all passengers, not the 'visit and pay more than locals' system which surely goes against the EU all equal citizens claim.?
And Arriva? well when i said 'be careful what you wish for' regarding the new era i was howled down.. I hope that i am proved wrong, but some of us have had the Arriva experience and it wasnt all sweetness and light.
But to Mr Valletta and the other kind and respected drivers, a BIG thank you - you will remain in the holiday memories and pictures of more people than you realise. God bless.